Fastening for horseshoes



(No Model.)

B. T. OOVELL.

FASTENING FOR HORSESHOES. No. 541,524. Patented June 25, 1895.

fiwawr; zkward'f G OveZZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD T. COVELL, CF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FASTENING FOR HORSESHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,524, dated June 25, 1895.

Application filed June 25, 1894. Serial No. 515,673. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. COVELL, of New Bedford, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fastenings for Horseshoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to horse-shoes and consists in an improved fastening device for securing the shoe to the hoof.

In prior patents I have shown and described various forms of horse shoe fastening devices, in which the shoe is mainly supported against the sole of the shoe by means of a loop or bail extending around the upper portion of the hoof and secured to the heel and toe ends of the shoe respectively.

The present invention consists in an improved fastening device in which the necessity of providing a supporting loop extending around the hoof is obviated the shoe being secured by means of a key or extension at the toe end of the hoof extending upward through a suitable opening made for the purpose in the shell of the hoof, the said key being longitudinally secured at its lower end in the front or toe portion of the shoe and engaging at its upper end with the upper portion of the hoof in such a manner as to secure the shoe in place. In addition to the said key, projections from-the shoe such as studs extending upward from the surface thereof, or upwardly extending ears or lips at the sides thereof are provided and adapted to engage with suitable openings in the sole or lower portion of the hoof.

The key itself consists of an upward extension headed or. offset at its lower end and thus secured in an opening through the toe portion of the shoe at the same time being capable of rotation therein. The said extension is substantially vertical at its lower portion, the length of the said vertical portion being substantially equal to the distance between the sole of the hoof and that part of the upper surface thereof where the said extension emerges when the shoe is in position against the hoof. At this point, the key is bent back at such an angle that it lies closely against the front slanting surface of the hoof engaging the same so that it is supported. thereby and in turn supports the shoe.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a horses hoof with a shoe and fastening device embodying the present invention secured thereto, the lower portion of said fastening device being shown in dotted lines where it passes through the hoof; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

The fastening device consists mainly of a key or extension a passing upward through an opening 19 in the toe portion of the shoe b which is substantially the same in shape and structure as any ordinary horse shoe. The said key a is capable of turning in the opening 12 but is provided at its lower end with a headed or offset portion a which secures the key against an upward longitudinal displacement, with relation to the shoe. The said key a extends upward vertically through an opening 0 in the front or too portion of the hoof and at the point where it reaches the upper surface of the said hoof it is bent back at such an angle that its upper portion a when turned to the proper position will lie flat upon the front sloping surface of the hoof. Thus when it is desired to secure the shoe, the said "shoe is first placed in its proper position hoof, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

When the headed portion a reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, so that it engages the sloping side of the opening vb the key a is turned to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 with the upper portion a engaging the front surface of the hoof, thus looking or socuring the shoe to the hoof. In order to prevent the shoe from slipping laterally or longitudinally when thus secured, studs b or similar extensions are provided engaging with suitable openings in the hoof, the opening 0 through which the key a passes also laterally engaging the said key and tending to prevent the shoe from slipping.

I claim- 1. The combination with a horseshoe, of a key or extension having a headed or offset Ico portion a adapted to be seated in a hole in the shoe and thereby restrain the key from furtherlongitudinal movement, a straight portion next the head, and an inclined terminal portion a the latter portions being adapted to be passed through the hole in the shoe and a hole in the hoof, the whole key then being rofated to cause the inclined portion to engage the outer surface of the hoof substantially as described.

2. The combination with a horseshoe, of a key or extension having a headed or offset portion a adapted to be seated ina hole in the shoe and thereby restrain the key from further longitudinal movement, astraight por- 

